On Saturday, Welling United travel to Dulwich Hamlet for an Isthmian League Premier Division fixture.

Last weekend, the two clubs had a break from league action when playing FA Cup matches. Lee Martin’s Wings visited fellow step three side Uxbridge and had to remain patient before progressing deservedly with two late goals. The Wings went behind three minutes before the break but plugged away and Gillingham loanee Logan Dobbs headed an equaliser with three minutes left on the clock. 

They might have decided to settle for a draw and bring the tie back to Welling for a Tuesday night replay but Greg Cundle felt otherwise and fired home in the fourth minute of stoppage time. The Wings’ reward is a home tie against Slough Town in the second qualifying round.

While Welling were winning their match, Dulwich Hamlet became victims of a giant killing at home to Southern Counties East Football League club Whitstable Town. They appeared to be well in command when Luke Wanadio’s brace put them two-nil up. However his red card in first half stoppage time meant that they would have to play the second half short handed.

Dean Grant pulled one back twenty minutes into the second half and Javaun Splatt levelled eight minutes later. Dulwich captain Nyren Clunis was shown a second yellow card one minute later reducing the hosts to nine men. Whitstable made the two man advantage count when Splatt scored again deep into stoppage time.

In the early league table, Dulwich are in second place, one point behind leaders Brentwood Town while the Wings are fourth from bottom. However, Martin’s team will be buoyed by two consecutive away wins and may introduce new loanee signing Bright Siaw for his debut. Meanwhile, the hosts should be without suspended Clunis and seven goal Wanadio.  

It will be the first meeting between the two clubs at Champion Hill since August Bank Holiday Monday 2022. On that afternoon, Welling went ahead in the second minute through a Frankie Raymond free kick before Amadou Kassarate, now a Dulwich player, added a second. Although former Wing Danny Mills pulled one back, it was not enough and the Wings held out.